Boston Celtics Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Southwest Rumors: Hornets, Allen, Mayo, Kidd

April 18th, 2012 at 1:37pm CST by Luke Adams

Let's check in on a few Wednesday updates out of the Southwest Division….

The Hornets are expected to waive Chris Johnson and sign another big man to replace him, reports John Reid of the New Orleans Times-Picayune. With Chris Kaman and Emeka Okafor likely done for the season, New Orleans is lacking in frontcourt depth, and Johnson hasn't played in over two weeks since he suffered a concussion.
Following up on the Ray Allen/O.J. Mayo trade rumor from Yahoo! Sports, Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal says he heard the Celtics' asking price also included Mike Conley, Dante Cunningham, and Josh Selby in a large deal that included draft picks. The Grizzlies didn't want to give up so many assets to rent Allen, says Tillery.
Bill Ingram of HoopsWorld examines whether or not Mayo has a place in the Grizzlies' future.
Asked if he could see Jason Kidd becoming a coach when his playing career ends, Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle replied, "He'll probably be an owner" (Twitter link via Dwain Price of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram).

Celtics Nearly Traded Ray Allen To Grizzlies

April 18th, 2012 at 8:25am CST by Luke Adams

Although the Celtics ended up standing pat at last month's trade deadline, the team was close to making one or two blockbuster moves and breaking up its Big Three, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.

According to Wojnarowski, Ray Allen received a phone call from Celtics coach Doc Rivers, telling him he'd been traded to the Grizzlies for a package that included O.J. Mayo and a draft pick. However, shortly after the call, Allen received word that the deal had fallen apart.

The Celtics also had serious discussions with the Nets about a deal that would've sent Paul Pierce to New Jersey in exchange for Mehmet Okur and a lottery pick, says Wojnarowski. Grantland's Bill Simmons wrote of those talks last week, noting that the Nets eventually elected to acquire Gerald Wallace from Portland for a similar package (one which also included Shawne Williams).

While the Celtics have played their best basketball of the season since the deadline and are a popular choice to upset the Bulls or Heat in the Eastern playoffs, the team's failed trades are interesting to consider. Had they made those deals, Boston would be heading into the summer armed with three first-round picks and even more cap flexibility, without Pierce on next year's books. We'll see if the Celtics' Big Three has one more run left to reward GM Danny Ainge's deadline decision to stand pat.

Celtics Notes: Free Agents, Bass, Stiemsma

April 17th, 2012 at 9:19am CST by Luke Adams

The Celtics have a chance to clinch the Atlantic Division and secure at least the fourth seed in the East tonight. As Chris Forsberg of ESPNBoston.com outlines, a Celtics win in New York and a 76ers loss to Indiana would lock up the Atlantic for Boston. As the Celtics prepare for tonight's matchup with the Knicks, let's check in on a few Tuesday morning C's notes….

Wyc Grousbeck, one of the managing partners of the Celtics, is looking to the post-Big-Three era in Boston with a mix of eagerness and patience, writes Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald.
Said Grousbeck: "I’m excited about the summer. I’m excited about next summer, too. I’m excited about the Celtics really. I think we’ve got a lot of possibilities in our future. Danny [Ainge] said to me that he’s been in front offices for something like 13 years — coach, general manager — and he’s never had cap space once. And I think that’s an angle that’s interesting. I said, 'Maybe you should try it.'"
Grousbeck added that he and the Celtics are "not ruling anything out" when it comes to the pursuit of marquee free agents.
Brandon Bass has a $4.25MM player option for next season, but hasn't made a decision on it yet, as he tells Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe: "I want to be here a long time playing alongside [Rajon] Rondo, [but] to be honest, I am not that type of guy to even be thinking about things like [the option] because I just try to get better every day."
In an ESPN Boston piece, Chris Forsberg takes a look at Greg Stiemsma's defensive improvements this season.

Odds & Ends: Celtics, Raptors, Brown, Draft

April 16th, 2012 at 10:15pm CST by Chuck Myron

It's an eventful night in the NBA with 11 games, many of which have playoff implications. There's been plenty of draft news as well, as teams look past the playoffs, and one item concerning the distant future, with the NBA announcing the Hornets will host the 2014 All-Star Game, just six years after hosting the 2008 event. The new ownership of Tom Benson had plenty to do with that, though he's already come up short in his quest to get the Jazz nickname back from Utah, as Brian T. Smith of The Salt Lake Tribune notes. If Benson ditches the Hornets name, it'll be a while before Charlotte could use it again, writes Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer. While nicknames won't be moving for a while, there's plenty of movement on other fronts, and here's the latest:

A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com doesn't think free agents Roy Hibbert and Eric Gordon will switch teams this summer, but says the Celtics have interest in both (Twitter link).
Frank Zicarelli of the Toronto Sun breaks down the Raptors' roster and predicts who'll be there next season and who won't.
Longtime coach Larry Brown is pursuing the Blazers GM job even as he zeroes in on the SMU coaching gig, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.
ESPN.com's Chad Ford discusses the possibility that Kentucky senior Darius Miller, currently projected as a second-rounder, could climb up the draft board and make it six first-round picks for the Wildcats (Insider only).
Al Iannazzone of New York Newsday rounds up Carmelo Anthony's comments on multiple radio shows today about the way new Knicks coach Mike Woodson has held him accountable (Sulia links).
Mavs cast-off Lamar Odom leads Sam Smith's list of the biggest disappointments this year on NBA.com
Chris Tomasson of Fox Sports Florida shares the results of an informal survey of 11 former MVPs, who give a slight edge to Kevin Durant over LeBron James in this year's race. The former players won't have official votes for the award; instead, writers and broadcasters will make the selection.
Roland Beech of 82games.com crunches the numbers and determines Gilbert Arenas, taken in the second round by the Warriors in 2001, was the shrewdest draft choice in recent years (hat tip to Alex Raskin of HoopsWorld).

Cavs Rumors: Ferry, Jamison, Sloan

April 16th, 2012 at 9:09pm CST by Chuck Myron

The idea that the Cavs might make a run at the playoffs this season has long since faded to a distant memory now that they have the fifth-worst record in the league. The focus is clearly on the future, with two first-round draft picks lined up for June. Here's the latest on Cavs past, present and, possibly, future:

After looking at the progress former Cav J.J. Hickson has made since his arrival in Portland, as we noted earlier this evening, Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio shares a pair of front-office rumors involving former Cavs GM Danny Ferry, now working in the Spurs front office. Ferry, along with Celtics GM Danny Ainge, is a candidate for the Blazers GM job, and Ferry could also be next in line for the Wizards GM job should they decide to replace Ernie Grunfeld.
Antawn Jamison will turn 36 in June, right before he goes out on the market as an unrestricted free agent. Mary Schmitt Boyer of the Plain Dealer looks at how Jamison's offseason body maintenance helped him start every game of the season for the Cavs until coach Byron Scott gave him a night off for rest on Saturday. Ryan Raroque profiled Jamison for the Hoops Rumors Free Agent Stock Watch series last night.
Donald Sloan has an unguaranteed minimum-salary contract for next season, but Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal believes he's performed well enough in place of injured Kyrie Irving to come back to the team next season as Irving's backup.

Atlantic Notes: Prokhorov, Nets, Celtics, Raptors

April 11th, 2012 at 10:22am CST by Luke Adams

Nets majority owner Mikhail Prokhorov is in America this week and spoke to reporters yesterday about meeting with Deron Williams and his desire to turn the team into a championship contender. If you're looking for something substantial though, look elsewhere, says Dave D'Alessandro of the Star-Ledger. D'Alessandro calls Prokhorov an absentee owner who doesn't really follow the team closely, and wonders how that will affect players deciding whether or not to sign with the Nets.

Here are a few morning Wednesday morning links out of the Atlantic Division:

Trail Blazers fans are hoping the Nets' first-round pick Portland holds turns into perhaps a fourth- or fifth-overall selection, but as a NetsDaily piece points out, that's not possible based on the current standings. The best the Blazers' could do with New Jersey's pick right now is seventh overall. I updated the status of this pick and other protected first-rounders yesterday.
With the 2012 London Olympics approaching, a pair of Celtics teammates expressed a lack of interest in playing for Team USA, as Chris Tomasson of FOX Sports Florida writes. Rajon Rondo said he loves his summers too much to consider playing in the Olympics, while Ray Allen said he believes players should be paid to participate, given the profit made off Team USA jersey sales.
Unlike Toronto's NHL team, the Raptors shouldn't be sorry for the team's performance this season, says Doug Smith of the Toronto Star. While Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke took out an ad in the Star to apologize for his team's disappointing record, Bryan Colangelo and the Raptors have done exactly what they intended this season — develop young players, maintain cap flexibility, and incorporate the philosphies of new coach Dwane Casey.

Odds & Ends: Howard, Magic, Odom, Celtics

April 9th, 2012 at 10:25pm CST by Zachary Links

Its been a rocky few weeks in Orlando, but you wouldn’t know it by the result of tonight’s contest against the Pistons. The Magic blew out Detroit, 119-89, without the services of Dwight Howard. Here’s more on the Central Florida soap opera and other items from around the Association..

Magic senior vice president Pat Williams, who helped found the franchise in 1989, says that he believes that coach Stan Van Gundy and Howard can co-exist in Orlando, according to the Associated Press.
Adding Lamar Odom would make the Knicks instant title contenders in 2013, but there are a number of hurdles the club will have to clear in order to make that happen, writes Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com.
In less than a month, the Celtics have gone from rebuilding mode to title contention, writes Sean Deveney of the Sporting News.
Thomas Robinson would be a tremendous fit for the Bobcats, writes Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer.
Texas A&M junior Khris Middleton announced that he will enter the draft, according to the AP. The small forward started 72 games in three seasons with the Aggies.

Atlantic Notes: Sixers, Celtics, Anthony, Nets

April 9th, 2012 at 3:33pm CST by Michael Pina

In what has to be one of the most shocking collapses in recent memory, the Sixers have gone from championship contender to fringe playoff team in a mere couple of weeks. In an Insider article, ESPN.com's John Hollinger says one reason for the constant losing has been a sharp decline in offensive efficiency. Philly.com's John Mitchell says the problem lies in the team's lack of character.

In a column that ponders possible locations for Dwight Howard next season, Bulls.com's Sam Smith says the Sixers are almost sure to break up their potent Jrue Holliday, Evan Turner, Andre Iguodala trio.
Rich Levine of CSNNE.com says Celtics fans should be hoping the Bucks make the playoffs. If they do, Boston gets Milwaukee's second round draft pick from the offseason Keyon Dooling.
The New York Post's Tim Bontemps points out a rare bright spot relating to the Nets. If the Rockets make the playoffs, New Jersey receives the team's first round draft pick.
Coming off an Easter Sunday thriller that saw Carmelo Anthony score his most points in a Knicks uniform, ESPNNY.com's Ian Begley writes that the All-Star is thriving in isolation sets. With Amare Stoudemire and Jeremy Lin both out, New York will only go as far as Anthony can take them.

Atlantic Notes: Farmar, Green, Allen, Chandler

April 6th, 2012 at 12:39pm CST by Chuck Myron

We could be in for quite a finish in the Atlantic Division, as the Sixers trail the first-place Celtics by a game while the Knicks are two and a half games back. The Celtics are just four games ahead of the Bucks for the final playoff spot, so it's conceivable that any of the Atlantic contenders could miss the playoffs. Here's the buzz from around the division:

Nets guard Jordan Farmar was thought to be done for the season with a groin injury, but Andy Vasquez of the Bergen Record tweets that he may be back sooner than that. Farmar has a $4.25MM player option for next season, and if he can prove he's healthy and maintain his career-high 10.4 PPG scoring average in a few more outings this year, he may be inclined to turn down the option and test free agency.
Chris Mannix of SI.com chronicles the long road back to the NBA for Gerald Green, who's made solid contributions for the Nets and is drawing interest from the Lakers as this summer's free agency looms.
Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald looks at the Celtics' decision to bring shooting guard Ray Allen, a free agent this summer, off the bench for just the fifth time in his career last night against the Bulls.
Keith Schlosser praises the impact that free-agent signee Tyson Chandler has had on defense for the Knicks, while Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com makes the case that Chandler should win the Defensive Player of the Year award. You can give your thoughts on the award in this Hoops Rumors poll.

Atlantic Notes: Celtics, Knicks, Calipari, Davis

April 3rd, 2012 at 11:00am CST by Luke Adams

It looks to be an eventful day for the Atlantic Division, both on and off the court. The 76ers and Knicks will visit Miami and Indiana, respectively, looking to gain ground on the division-leading Celtics, while off the court, Nets star Deron Williams is again discussing his impending free agency. We have a few more notes from the division to round up, so let's dive in….

Executives and other sources around the league don't blame Celtics GM Danny Ainge for his inactivity when it comes to moving his Big Three, says Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald. Said one source: "Look, I’ve had my dealings with [Ainge], and he could be pain in the butt. But if I was him, I wouldn’t have taken what we were trying to give. Sometimes the hardest thing to do is nothing, even when it’s the right thing. We’re programmed to act, but sometimes that can be the dumbest thing you can do." Ainge's decision to stand pat is paying off now — the Celtics are 15-5 since the All-Star break, including an ongoing five-game winning streak.
The Lakers have title aspirations and the Knicks are battling to hold on to a playoff spot, but the two teams have more in common than you'd think, argues John Hollinger of ESPN.com (Insider link). According to Hollinger, health is the main difference between the two teams, as Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, and Andrew Bynum have yet to miss a single game due to injury while the Knicks have been hit hard by the injury big.
Even now that Kentucky has won a National Championship, don't expect to see John Calipari jump at a chance to coach the Knicks or any other team, writes Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv.
Calipari's star player, Anthony Davis, is a lock to go first overall in this June's draft, prompting Reid Cherner of USA Today to ask which of the league's eight worst teams would benefit most from drafting the Kentucky big man. The Nets and Raptors are among the choices, and Raps coach Dwane Casey is among Davis' fans, according to Eric Koreen of the National Post.